Farmer shot by farm worker

An 18-year-old farm worker was arrested for allegedly shooting a farmer near Reddersburg after she apparently confronted him for loitering instead of working, Free State police said on Thursday.

Lieutenant-Colonel Thandi Mbambo said Heilie Labuschagne (38) was preparing to go to Bloemfontein when she left her handbag and the car keys in her bakkie to fetch something from the house on Wednesday morning.

"As she was locking the back door, she was pushed back into the house by one of her employees, who was in possession of a firearm he stole from her bag."

Mbambo said the man apparently tried to shoot Labuschagne twice, but the firearm failed.

Another employee, who saw what was happening, came to the woman's assistance but the attacker allegedly fired a shot in the helper's direction but missed.

Mbambo said the worker fled in Labuschagne's Ford Ranger and the police and neighbouring farmers were called to guard all exit routes.

Police said the fleeing man was apprehended about 10km from the scene by a neighbouring farmer. The firearm was found in his possession.

The man, who had worked on the farm for four months, was expected to appear in the Reddersburg Magistrate's Court on Thursday on charges of attempted murder, theft of a vehicle and theft of a firearm and ammunition.